Supplier Newsline

Tigercat has replaced the 630C skidder with the new 630D model, which is described as being among the most advanced, highest capacity four-wheel drive skidders on the market.

The new D-series machines are the most efficient, highest production and operator friendly skidders ever produced by Tigercat, the company says. While the 630C was equipped with an 8.3 L engine, the D-series is powered by the 260 hp Cummins QSB6.7 Tier III engine. Improvements to the hydrostatic driveline allow the 630D to achieve improved performance and superior fuel economy out of the smaller displacement engine.

Inside the cab, the 630D is equipped with ‘Turnaround'. The revolutionary rotating seat has a two-position mechanical lock providing full rear-facing drive capability. The steering wheel has been replaced with an armrest mounted joystick for improved ergonomics. Drive pedals are located at both the front and rear of the cab. Combined with Tigercat's hydrostatic driveline, Turnaround allows the operator to travel in reverse while comfortably facing the rear. The full speed range is available, whether in forward or reverse.

The next generation IQAN control system has improved functionality and a simpler, more intuitive user interface.

The arch has been redesigned for improved visibility, more powerful arch holding force and quicker cycle time.

Changing environmental regulations regarding vegetation control are providing new opportunities for contractors to maximize hours on equipment. To take advantage of new contract bids, it's important to have the right tool.

Fecon now offers its durable mulcher, the Bull Hog, for mid-size and smaller excavators. This unit is called the compact equipment mulcher.

The compact equipment mulcher features Fecon's fixed rotor system that allows contractors to grind material up to 4" in diameter.

It offers a 36" cutting width and a maximum weight of between 1000 to 1200 lbs. This mulcher is targeted for excavators in the 7 to 12 tonne range with 17 to 30 gpm of auxiliary flow. The compact equipment mulcher also works well on other applicable machinery, such as larger backhoes. www.fecon.com

New log moulder from Norwood

Norwood Industries has introduced, in cooperation with its European partner, Logosol, the log moulder 410.

The 410 puts commercial-grade log-building and custom log-moulding capabilities into the hands of all sawyers.

The log moulder's throat size easily handles beams as big as 24" wide by 24" high. But the real secret to the LM410 is that it works with a sawmill: it mounts on a mill's rails. Because the log is supported by the sawmill bed, the log moulder can handle oversize, overlength beams and boards that would choke anything but the biggest industrial planer/moulders.

Norwood's log moulder fits both their LumberMate 2000 and LumberLite 24 sawmills. Because the 410's adjustable carriage wheels can be configured from 33" to 38" apart, the Log Moulder also works on the LumberMate Mark 3 and Mark 4 models, and most personal sawmills made by other manufacturers.

The log moulder can create dozens of finished surfaces. It can smoothly plane large beams and boards and it can also mould cants to make unique pillars, posts, and columns. It can accurately joint and mould timbers for log-home construction. It can even be used to finish and sculpt oversized boards to make unique furniture.

Sawyers can square a log on their mill, then, without moving the cant, fire up the 410 and immediately plane, joint or mould it. They can go from raw log to fully finished product--two operations, all on one single platform. www.norwoodindustries.com

Cat launches forwarder line

Cat Forest Products has a new forwarder line, and has introduced two models: one with 18 tonne capacity and a second with 20 tonne capacity.

The new Cat 584 and Cat 584HD are designed to withstand the demanding requirements of transporting large payloads long distances over difficult terrain, while providing outstanding operator comfort, controllability and serviceability, the company says.

The 18 tonne Cat 584 is available in a 6-wheel drive or 8-wheel drive configuration. The 20 tonne Cat 584HD is available as an 8-wheel drive. A field-proven hydrostatic propel system provides maximum power on grade through a wide engine rpm and ground speed range, resulting in infinitely variable speeds at peak power and dynamic braking on steep terrain.

The operator environment is a totally new design and provides the operator with a very comfortable, spacious environment featuring automatic temperature controls on the heater/AC, low effort ergonomic joystick controls, easy entry and egress, storage compartments and superb visibility.

The forwarders feature the Cat C7 Tier III-compliant engine with ACERT technology that delivers 204 kW of gross power at 1800 rpm. The lug curve of the engine provides torque in the 1400 and 1600 rpm range, providing increased fuel efficiency.

Fuel efficiency is also achieved by the large diameter cooling fan, which has its own hydraulic pump that includes a speed control modulated by the forwarder control system. www.cat.com

MTS Sensors increase linear position performance

MTS Systems Corp, Sensors Division, has improved the design of its Temposonics linear-position sensors to increase the sensors' longevity in high-vibration applications like those in the forest industry.

The improved construction increases the previously high performance and robustness standards of MTS' linear-position sensors, doubling the vibration force they can withstand. These developments, in addition to the rugged durability of their non-contact magnetostrictive technology, make MTS's Temposonics linear-position sensors ideal for forest industry applications, according to the company, including tree harvesting, router control, portable sawmills, log optimizer positioning, plywood press stroke, and paper and film slitters.

The Temposonics linear-position sensors use non-contact, magnetostrictive sensing technology, which by eliminating wear, provide users with much higher durability and output reliability than the more fragile and environmentally vulnerable encoders that are standard on many other sensors. The company says MTS' magnetostrictive sensors provide even higher performance and greater robustness than other magnetostrictive sensors in part because MTS is the only magnetostrictive sensor supplier that manufactures its own waveguide.

John Deere will use cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) engines with exhaust filters consisting of a diesel oxidation catalyst/diesel particulate filter in its construction equipment to meet emissions regulations mandated by the EPA and EU for diesel engines 174 horsepower and up.

The John Deere cooled EGR engine platform for iT4 compliance is simpler, more operator friendly and less complex to maintain compared to SCR (selective catalytic reduction) systems, says John Deere.

"Unlike SCR, the iT4 solution doesn't require liquid urea to achieve emission compliance, so there are no additional fluids to worry about obtaining, filling or storing on remote jobsites at proper temperatures," says Mastanduno. "EGR is a single-fluid solution, and that fluid is diesel fuel."

John Deere was the first manufacturer to widely commercialize off-highway Tier 3/Stage III A cooled EGR diesel engines and has the highest field population of cooled EGR engines currently operating.

John Deere says extensive testing in key products featuring these engines, such as the 350D excavator, 700J crawler dozer and the new 772G motor grader, has shown a 10 percent or greater advantage in material moved per fuel used over competitors.

September 2009

It's welcome news that biofibre company TTS Inc has plans for a fibre mat plant--using waste wood fibre as a feedstock--in Drayton Valley, Alberta, as the town works to move on from the closure of an OSB plant.

Northern Engineered Wood Products has changed gears in terms of its wood fibre diet, and is now utilizing mountain pine beetle wood--which is ground in the bush--at its particleboard manufacturing plant in B.C.